Seating/reclining furniture arrangement

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a seating/reclining furniture arrangement comprising at least one seating/reclining unit and a supplementary module fastened to the seating/reclining unit. The supplementary module has a base and a top part. The top part can be moved between a closed position and an access position, with a functional region provided at the base being accessible in the access position of the top part.

The present invention relates to a seating/reclining furniture arrangement comprising at least one seating/reclining unit and a supplementary module fastened to the seating/reclining unit.

It is generally known to provide modules that act as a kind of side table at seating/reclining furniture. It is thereby possible for the user to place articles down at a reachable proximity without having to stand up. The necessity for a separate piece of furniture is dispensed with by the integration of this function in a seating/reclining furniture arrangement.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a furniture arrangement that has an increased functionality and thus improved comfort without this being at the expense of the overall visual impression of the furniture arrangement.

The object is satisfied by a furniture arrangement having the features of claim 1. In accordance with the invention, the supplementary module has a base and a top part. The top part can be moved between a closed position and an access position. In the access position of the top part, a functional region provided at the base is accessible.

In other words, by moving or traveling the top part relative to the base, a functional region provided thereat can be accessed. The top part protects the functional region in the closed position. With a suitable embodiment of the top part, the functional region is additionally “invisible” in the closed position of the top part such that it does not impair the overall visual impression of the furniture arrangement.

The user can access the functionalities provided in the functional region without having to get up simply and comfortably by a simple movement, e.g. a linear traveling, of the top part. Conversely, these functionalities can be protected and covered as required in a fast and uncomplicated manner, namely in that the cover part is moved from the access position into the closed position.

The functional region can comprise a recess and/or can be arranged in a recess of the base. The functional region can be adapted as desired to the respective requirement or customer desires. It, for example, comprises a placement element (e.g. a placement surface) to be able to place articles down securely. Stowage spaces or stowage compartments can likewise be provided. Alternatively or additionally, at least one beverage holder, e.g. in the form of a suitable depression, can be integrated into the functional region.

In accordance with an advantageous embodiment, the functional region comprises electrical and/or electronic components. An inductive charging station can be provided, for example, with which electronic devices such as cell phones can be charged. It is also conceivable to arrange at least one connection possibility for an electrical and/or electronic device in the functional region, for example at least one socket for the power supply of a device and/or a USB connection.

An electrical/electronic device can be integrated into the supplementary module. It is generally possible to integrate such a device into the base and in particular into the functional region. If an electronic device is in contrast integrated into the top part, this device is always accessible without the top part having to be moved into the access position. The device can, for example, be a music playback device. Such devices are frequently also used when a person is not sitting or reclining on the furniture arrangement. If the device is arranged in the top part, it can be accessed even though the functional region is covered by the top part such that the overall visual impression of the furniture arrangement is not impaired. The electronic device is preferably arranged in a strip or in a pad that is arranged at an end of the top part at the rear in the position of use.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the seating/reclining furniture in accordance with the invention, its at least one seating/reclining unit comprises an electrically actuable functionality that can be supplied with electrical energy and/or control signals via the supplementary module. This is in particular advantageous when the supplementary module—e.g. the functional region of the base or the top part—anyway has a connection possibility for an electrical and/or electronic device. The power supply of the total furniture arrangement can then take place in a space-saving and efficient manner via the supplementary module.

The top part can be movable in a substantially horizontal plane. It is, however, also possible to provide an obliquely arranged movement plane (e.g. a plane defined by the seating/reclining part of the seating/reclining unit or disposed in parallel therewith). Curved movement paths are also generally conceivable with a corresponding design of the base and of the top part.

The top part is preferably movable to the rear in a position of use of the seating/reclining furniture arrangement This facilitates the accessibility of the functional region from the front. The base and/or the top part can have a substantially trapezoidal basic shape. The basic shape of the named components can be substantially the same. For example, the top part completely covers the base in the closed position.

If the supplementary module is releasably fastened to the seating/reclining unit, this increases its flexible possibilities for use and combination with the most varied furniture units.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the seating/reclining furniture arrangement, at least two seating/reclining units are provided. The supplementary module is arranged between the two named units in this embodiment. It is possible in this case to configure the supplementary module such that it has no direct contact with the floor in the position of use. With a suitable configuration and a corresponding stability of the seating/reclining unit, the supplementary module can, however, also be fastened to a side of the named unit in a “freely hovering” manner without having separate support points.

The top part can be padded at least sectionally such that it at least visually approximates the design of the seating/reclining unit or is even the same as it. The case can also be correspondingly padded and covered.

The present invention furthermore relates to a supplementary module for a seating/reclining furniture arrangement, wherein the supplementary module has a base and a top part that is movable between a closed position and an access position. In the access position of the top part, a functional region provided at the base is accessible.

The supplementary module can have at least one fastening section with which the supplementary module is fastenable, in particular releasably fastenable, to at least one seating/reclining unit.

The present invention will be explained in the following purely by way of example with reference to advantageous embodiments and to the enclosed drawings.

There are shown:

FIG. 1 a first embodiment of a supplementary module with the top part in a closed position;

FIG. 2 the supplementary module of FIG. 1 with the top part in the access position;

FIGS. 3 and 4 a seating furniture arrangement with a further embodiment of the supplementary module in the closed and open states respectively; and

FIG. 5 an enlargement of a section of the supplementary module of

FIGS. 3 and 4 in the open state.

FIG. 1 shows a supplementary module 10 that comprises a base 12 (whose front right corner cannot be seen) that stands on the ground in the position of use and a top part 14. Both the base 12 and the top part 14 have a substantially trapezoidal basic shape in a plan view. It is, however, understood that the basic shape can be varied as desired.

The top part 14 is movable relative to the base 12. In FIG. 1, the top part 14 is shown in a closed position. In the embodiment shown, the top part 14 substantially completely covers the side of the supplementary module 10 at the top in the position of use. It is, however, also possible to split the upper side of the supplementary module 10. I.e. only a specific region of the upper side of the module 10 is a top part movable relative to the base 12, while other regions form a “fixed” top section.

The base 12 has fastening elements 16 at side walls 12 a and the supplementary module 10 can be releasably coupled in a simple manner to a furniture unit, in particular to a seating and/or reclining unit, by said fastening elements. The fastening elements 16 are thus coupling fittings that can be connected to corresponding mating pieces that are provided at the desired furniture unit.

The top part 14 has a strip 18 into which a music playback system 20 is integrated. The system 20 is, for example, a hi-fi component that is connected by means of WLAN and/or Bluetooth to a media storage system. The strip 18 and/or the system 20 can comprise further functional units, for example a data display system or a playback system, and/or connections (e.g. USB connection). In general, any desired components that should be accessible at all times can be integrated into the strip 18.

The pad-like configuration of the strip 18 prevents articles that have been placed on the upper side of the top part 14 from falling down to the rear.

FIG. 2 shows the supplementary module 10 (the left corner of the strip 18 and the front right corner of the base 12 cannot be seen) in a configuration in which the top part 14 is in an access position. The top part 14 was moved linearly to the rear relative to the base 12 for this purpose. The plane of movement is in this respect substantially in the horizontal in the position of use of the module 10. Other movement planes or tracks can, however, easily be implemented.

It is now possible by moving the top part 14 to access the functional region 22 that in the present embodiment of the supplementary module 10 comprises two beverage holders 24 and a connection unit 26 having a socket for the power supply of external devices and having a USB connection. The functional region 22 additionally has a placement area 28.

The functional region 22 is arranged slightly set back from the upper edge of the base 12. The configuration of the functional region 22 can be adapted as required. The base 12 can—additionally or alternatively—have compartments or stowage spaces that are provided with additional covers or flaps as required. The use of display elements such as displays, monitors or touch screens, is likewise possible. Operating elements can also be provided with which functionalities of external devices and/or of a furniture unit connected to the module 10 can be controlled.

FIG. 3 shows a supplementary module 10′ that is connected to two seating units 30. The supplementary module 10′ is not itself supported on the floor, but is supported by the two seating units 30 that in turn rest on foot elements 32. A so-called “trapezoidal sofa” 34 (the front left and upper left corners of the searing furniture arrangement 34 are cropped and therefore not visible) results due to the trapezoidal basic shape of the base 12. Different articles such as bags, a sheet of paper and a remote control lie on the trapezoidal sofa 34. It can be recognized that the supplementary module 10′ harmonizes well with the seating units 30 visually due to an adapted padding and a corresponding cover of the top part 14 and of the base 12. The top part 14 defines a substantially horizontal plane, while the seating surfaces of the units 30 are inclined slightly to the rear in an ergonomically advantageous manner. The backrests of the units 30 can be electrically adjusted together with the armrests. The control of this adjustment function takes place by means of consoles (not shown) that are respectively connected to the respective adjustment drive via a cable 36. When not in use, the consoles are magnetically fixed to the respective unit 30. Differing from the embodiment shown, the control consoles can also be integrated into the module 10, in particular into its region 22.

In order to reach the functional components provided in the interior of the base 12, the top part 14 is moved to the rear, as can be seen in FIG. 4 (the left unit 30 is cropped at the left side and at the bottom). Two beverage holders 24 and one connection unit 25 thus become accessible.

FIG. 5 shows an enlargement of the functional region 22 of the supplementary module 10′. The connection unit 26 is open to reach a conventional socket and a USB connection. If required, the connection unit 26 can be closed by moving a cover 26 a (see FIG. 4). The cover 26 a comprises a charging station for the inductive charging of electronic devices such as a cell phone.

The supplementary module in accordance with the present invention can be provided with a plurality of functional components to be able to provide the use with seating/reclining furniture having integrated functions that are easily accessible and that can be covered quickly as required. The corresponding functional region can be adapted to be able to place down and/or to store articles reliably and/or to be able to supply electronic devices or electrical devices with power or to be able to charge them. Connections for data connections are also conceivable. Devices of the named kind can generally also be integrated into the module in accordance with the invention, either in its base or—always accessible—in its top part.

The basic shape and the dimensioning of the supplementary module can likewise be adapted in a tailored manner. The supplementary module can—unlike as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4—also form an end section of a furniture arrangement.

REFERENCE NUMERAL LIST

-   10, 10′ supplementary module -   12 base -   14 top part -   12 a side wall -   16 fastening element -   18 strip -   20 music playback system -   22 functional region -   24 beverage holder -   26 connection unit -   26 a cover -   28 placement surface -   30 seating unit -   32 foot element -   34 trapezoidal sofa -   36 cable 

1,-14. (canceled)
 15. A seating/reclining furniture arrangement comprising at least one seating/reclining unit and a supplementary module fastened to the seating/reclining unit, wherein the supplementary module has a base and a top part that is movable between a closed position and an access position, with a functional region provided at the base being accessible in the access position of the top part.
 16. The seating/reclining furniture arrangement in accordance with claim 15, wherein the functional region comprises a recess and/or is arranged in a recess of the base.
 17. The seating/reclining furniture arrangement in accordance with claim 15, wherein the functional region has at least one placement element, at least one beverage holder, at least one inductive charging station and/or at least one connection possibility for an electrical and/or electronic device.
 18. The seating/reclining furniture arrangement in accordance with claim 17, wherein the at least one connection possibility is at least one socket and/or a USB connection.
 19. The seating/reclining furniture arrangement in accordance with claim 15, wherein an electronic and/or electrical device is integrated into the top part or into the base of the supplementary module.
 20. The seating/reclining furniture arrangement in accordance with claim 19, wherein the electronic and/or electrical device is integrated into a strip provided at an end of the top part at the rear in the position of use.
 21. The seating/reclining furniture arrangement in accordance with claim 15, wherein the seating/reclining unit has an electrically actuable functionality that can be supplied with electrical energy and/or control signals via the supplementary module.
 22. The seating/reclining furniture arrangement in accordance with claim 15, wherein the top part is movable in a substantially horizontal plane and/or in a plane defined by a seating/reclining part of the seating/reclining unit.
 23. The seating/reclining furniture arrangement in accordance with claim 15, wherein the top part is movable to the rear in a position of use of the seating/reclining furniture arrangement.
 24. The seating/reclining furniture arrangement in accordance with claim 15, wherein the base and/or the top part have a substantially trapezoidal basic shape.
 25. The seating/reclining furniture arrangement in accordance with claim 15, wherein the base and the top part have substantially the same basic shape.
 26. The seating/reclining furniture arrangement in accordance with claim 15, wherein the supplementary module is releasably fastened to the seating/reclining unit.
 27. The seating/reclining furniture arrangement in accordance with claim 15, wherein at least two seating/reclining units are provided; and wherein the supplementary module is arranged between the seating/reclining units.
 28. The seating/reclining furniture arrangement in accordance with claim 27, wherein the supplementary module does not have any direct contact with the floor.
 29. The seating/reclining furniture arrangement in accordance with claim 15, wherein the top part is at least sectionally padded.
 30. A supplementary module for a seating/reclining furniture arrangement, wherein the supplementary module has a base and a top part that is movable between a closed position and an access position, with a functional region provided at the base being accessible in the access position of the top part.
 31. The supplementary module in accordance with claim 30, wherein the supplementary module has at least one fastening section by which the supplementary module can be fastened to at least one seating/reclining unit.
 32. The supplementary module in accordance with claim 30, wherein the supplementary module has at least one fastening section by which the supplementary module can be fastened releasably fastened to at least one seating/reclining unit. 